The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-12-29
A YOUNG OPERATOR.
The Story of How the Baby Paid the
Mortgage.

Mortgage.
Eyes, Sir! the boy there. though
but five years old and not knowing a
dash from dot, stands upon the COM
pany's payroll as Telegraph Operator.
at fifty dollars per month. How did
it come about?' you ask. Just wait
few moments until my relief comes.
and as we walk to the house for sup
per. wiz give you the story"
The speaker was an old school friend
of mine. whom l had hunted up after
;slong absence from my native city.
and found busily employed in the train
dispatcher Office of the - railroad,
rs chief operator. Upon his telegraph
instruments rested the cabinet photo
graph of little boy, and my remark
ing upon the smart appearance Of the
little fellow elected the above reply.
Not much time for conversation
here" continued my friend, as if in
apology for not commencing at once.
''what with ordinary messages, train
reports. and the all important orders.
we are kept pretty busy; the hours are
short though. and, by the way. here
COMES my relief now.
Here followed an introduction to the
relief. pleasant-looking young man
of twenty-one OF two. whose duty it
was to remain all night at the post my
friend was just vacating. to whom was
given some general information as to
how the trains were running upon his
division. and what orders had been is
sued; and then, with a pleasant good
night. we were off
Now for the storyr' continued my
friend rs we emerged upon the street,
and turned our steps toward his home.
''One year ago l was discharged
from the very position now hold. for
having, as was charged, caused the
wreck of two freight trains at c.,
small station upon our line about thirty
miles east of here.
You must know that all regular
trains upon our road are run upon
schedule time. or, in other words. up
On that laid down in the timetables of
the company. But extras of any sort,
or regular trains when off their sched-
ule time. must be helped along By
telegraphic orders, issued by, or in
the name of. the train dispatcher
This. upon a single track road. carry
ing so much traffic as ours, is con-
stantly occurring.
LAS might weary you by detaila. if
entered into too minute an explana-
ton of how this is done, l will give
You the system in as few words as pos
sible.
For an example: We will say the
regular crossing point for No. 81 going
west. and No. So going east is B
Now all trains are reported by tele-
graph from each station as they pass
We are on the lookout for these re-
ports, and before us is the train sheet
upon which must be noted the time of
departure of each train from any sta
ton. Thus we can tell, at glance,
the position of every train upon the
road. We will say these reports show
No. IS. going east. to be thirty minutes
la,e. Since No. 81 would be oblia ed
TO wait at the usual crossing point for
the laggard, we give it an orde. to
proceed to C, ten miles beyoad,
and cross No. So there, thus keeping
it on time, while causing no further
delay to the delinquent. Of course it
70 ,,nftft- hot g
the change in crossing points, and
right here is where my trouble oc-
Cured.
''Oae day, sitting at my instruments.
busily employed as you saw me few
moments ago. discovered that freight
No. 102 was losing time. Soon it was
thirty minutes behind. and wishing to
help along freight No. 65. which usual
" crossed it at B, / concluded to
push it along to c. for crossing.
Accordingly l called up D.. the
next station beyond the usual crossing
point and upon receiving the response
went ahead with this order:
'To Conductor and Engineer 40 IS:
you will proceed TO C and cross No Toe
tnerts kSiSnSul dObbS DlSpatcner.
The next move was to protect them
in thus passing their usual crossing
point. by giving the same order to
No. 102 at A.
Calling up A.. I said in the
cipher used on such occasions: IA
for No. 102. which means. Put out
blue signal to hold No. 1922 This
blue signal. a flag by day and Ian
tern by night. conspicuously displayed
IN front of a station, means tele-
graphic orders. and by this signal no
train can pass. Instantly came back
the reply from the operator at A.
15 for 102.'
Nov every operator duty is to put